Should You Buy A Concrete Or Fibreglass Pool?
Purchasing a pool is a big choice: both financial-wise and personally. Here at Newcastle Swimming Pools, we understand the indecision you may have choosing between fibreglass and concrete. While it’s certainly important to remember that there is technically no wrong answer (at the end of the day you’re getting a pool!) there are definitely advantages and downsides to both. Certain homes will be more suitable to fibreglass pools, say, and vice versa. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve compiled a list of the most relevant benefits and disadvantages to both.
Advantages Of A Fibreglass Pool
Affordability
Without a doubt the biggest advantage that fibreglass pools have is their price. They are significantly cheaper to install than concrete pools. The average fibreglass pool will weigh in at $35,000. The average concrete pool, however, will cost you around $50,000.
But why are fibreglass pools so much more affordable? Some of the reasons are:
- Every fibreglass pool will be made from a pre-fitted mould in a manufacturing plant.
- The materials are easier to acquire.
Retains Far More Heat
A common consensus amongst fibreglass pool owners is that their pools are warmer – and stay warmer! This is likely attributed to the fact that fibreglass retains heat far better than concrete. Concrete itself is a colder material and takes a significantly longer time to warm up than fibreglass does. Another important fact to remember is that concrete pools are typically larger than fibreglass ones, meaning the time it takes to heat up the collective amount of water is even longer.
Installation Process Is Faster
As you may have already guessed, one of the biggest upsides to fibreglass pools is their fast and simple installation process. Fibreglass pools come pre-fitted in a mould, so the measurements are exact and uniform. From the moment you order your pool, it simply needs to be transported to your home, lifted into its place by a small crane, and then filled with water.
This process is extremely straight-forward; Newcastle Swimming Pools have been doing this for many years now, and have it down to a fine art. Concrete pools can take up to 3 months of excavating your whole backyard and setting troublesome concrete pools – this process is prone to headache and further complications.
But, from the moment you order your fibreglass pool, you could have it installed and ready to swim in in as little as 7 days!
Durability Through Flexibility
One surprising advantage of fibreglass pools is that the material fibreglass is much more flexible than concrete. This means it can withstand movements in the earth far better than rigid concrete can. This is particularly useful during seasonal soil movements and can prevent your pool from cracking, saving you further costs and headaches.
Maintenance And Anti-Algae
The last, but not least, important benefit that fibreglass pools have over concrete is their maintenance requirement. This is a broad category, but mostly we can fit it into two main points:
- Newcastle Swimming Pools come custom fitted with our state of the art gelcoat resin technology. This technology is specially designed to prevent algae bloom and mould, whereas concrete pools are particularly susceptible to black mould.
- The surface of a fibreglass pool is naturally easier to clean than a concrete pool. They stain less easily and saltwater will not degrade the surface as much as they will to the concrete.
Advantages Of A Concrete Pool
Flexibility In Design
The biggest advantage of concrete pools is their ability to fit any design. Whereas fibreglass pools come in pre-fitted moulds, concrete can be poured into any excavation shape or size that you may want. You can let your imagination run free with concrete pools. This extends to interior design choices, such as ledges, alcoves and swim-outs, that would otherwise be uniform or unavailable in fibreglass pools.
Strength And Durability
Concrete pools are just plain stronger than fibreglass pools. In fact, they are so incredibly durable that you can expect custom concrete surfaces – such as tiles, painted surface and pebblecrete – to have 15+ years of life. These kinds of surfaces will also offer a significantly better grip underfoot.
Lifespan
As you may have guessed, concrete pools are exceptionally strong. A good fibreglass pool will last you 20 years. However, a concrete pool can last up to 40 years. This is because once concrete is laid, it typically stays there for many years and resists standard wear and tear that may affect fibreglass pools.
Our Recommendation
While there is definitely no wrong choice, and each home will have different needs and requirements, it is our professional recommendation that fibreglass pools are the best choice. They are more affordable, easier and quicker to install, and the wide range of colours here at Newcastle Swimming Pools means your dream pool can be looking as spectacular as you can imagine! So get into contact with our friendly team today for your fibreglass pool options.
Get In Contact With Your Local Pool Builder
Any inquiries, questions or queries you may have, our pool builders are here to help, ask away so you can achieve the pool of your dream!
